Hand-knotter.



E. F. PARKS 6L J. A. ANDERSON.

HAND KNOTTER.

APPLICATION man NOV. 4. I9I:.

I 1 ,263, 1 01 Patented Apr. 16, 1918 3 SHEUS SHFET ill-III NI/Emoq E F, PARKS 6L J. A \NUiRSUN.

HAND KNOTTEH.

APPLICAFIQN mu) NOV 4. m5.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918 3SHEEYS-SHFFT 2.

AT Toqmzys E. F. PARKS & I. A. ANDERSON.

HAND KNOTTER.

APPucAnoa FFLED NOW 4. 1915 Pafented Apr. 1b 1918 3 SHEETS-SHFFI 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD EPARKB, O1 PROVIDENCE, AND JOHAH A. ANDERSON, 0F CRANBTON, EH01)! ISLAND, ASSIGNOBS, BY IEBNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNIVERSAL WINDING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MABSAOKUBET'IB, .A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HAND-KNO'ITEB.

a. collection 0! Letter! 2min.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application Med November 4, 1515. Serial Ito. 58,688.

lowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in hand, knot-tying devices for t ingnitogether the ends of a thread or yarn. l he ob1ect of our improvement is to )rovide a self-acting knotter which run he ield conveniently on the fingers of the mnd without strapping it thereto. and in such manner that it may be thrown out of operative position, while still retained on the fingers,'so as not to interfere with the use of the hand for other purposes than that of tying the knot.

In general our improved knotter is of the same ty )e as that shown in United States latentv 0. 1,041,163, granted to \Villiam 'llenfrew, Oct. 15, 1912. The present improvement consists particularly in adaptlllg'tllt device to he more conveniently held on the. hand without the employment of straps, buckles or other fastening-means while providing for shifting the knotter to hold it out of the way so as not to obstruct. the use of the hand for other purposes; in rendering it more convenient and easy to operate intying the knot; in providing a. protecting ease for the oporatingparts of the device to prevent the insinuation of dirt and lint; in renderin it more "ositive and etlieient in action; an in genera ly simplifying the structure and arrangement of its mechanism. r

The manner and means for carrying out our improvement are fully described in the following specification, illastratedilfg the ooto tie the knot;

eompanyiag drawings, in which refereuce characters designatelike' parts. In the drawings:.;,, v t;

Figure 1 is} side elevation of our improved knotter 'showin the manner in whic it is heldon the ngers 010119 hand while the otherhand manipulates the thread ig, 2, an enlar ed plan view of the dois manner in which the i the loop to tie the knot.

operating-mechanism is inclosed in tecting case; v

Fig. 3, an enlarged sectionalview of the device taken on'the axis of the pivot looperarm and illustrating the controlling-means for the latter;

its pro- Fig; 4, an enlarged view 'in pets ective of i the t rea dcntter or end-sev'erm nife;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, enlarged etail views of the loopermechanism'of the device illustrating the several steps in the operation of tgpng the knot and severing the ends of the t read;

Fig, 9, an enlarged side view showing the method of adjusting the end-severing knife;

Fig. 10, an enlarged side view of the mechanism of a modified form of the device;

Fig. 11 a sectional view of the same taken on the line 22 of Fi 10;

Fig. 12. a view simifiu' to Fi 10, showing still another -modification of tie invention;

Fig. 13,a sectional view ofthis embodiment-taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14, a detail view in perspective of the tln'ead-gripper springmlamp;

In the device of the Renf'rew patent above referred to the operating-mechanism of the knotter consists essentially of a swin ing looper-arm pivoted on a main hol ingframe and having opposite jaws adapted to grip the ends of the. thread looped around the end of the arm to draw them throu h Secured to t e frame is a knife arranged in the puth'of the looper as it swings about its pivot'to ada t it to sever the ends of the threads as the Knot is tied and drawn a taut. In the Renfrew device the holding-Frame is provided with a strap and buckle arrangement for fasten-- i-votcd looper, cuttingknife and threadolding means, but an ran them in more convenient position win 0' also simplifying their construction and inclosin the operating parts within a casing whic protects them from'lin and dust and prevents thethreads from catching on projections or other parts. In addition we dispense with the holding-strap and buckle and adapt the device to be held on the fingers so that it may be shifted around out of the way when the operator wishes to have his hand free for other Work. To proride for these improvements the device is constructed as follows:

Referring first to Fig. l, the main frame or holdingaueans for the knotter comprises a small circular casing C, similar in shape to a watch-case or locket, with a loop-like handle or finger-receiving means D extcnding downwardly from its side. The casing C is preferably constructed from sheetmetal struck up with a main saucer-like portion a, see Fig. 3, to the rim of which is fitted a convexly-shaped cover 0'. An axial bolt or pin B extends through the two parts a and c and is threaded at its ends to re ceive suitable fastening-nuts I), b, which are set up against the side walls of the casing to hold the sections together in fixed rela tion. The finger-hold D is also preferably constructed from sheet-n1etal with a main strap-like portion bent in the form of a double loop d, d. One portion d ofthe finger-hold D is made in the form of a complete circle having its end reaching around in a reverse curve to form the hook-like portion or open loop 61. Formed integral with the loop (1 is an arm d bent upwardly at substantially right-angles and shaped to conform to the outer convex face of the main casing-section c. The arm d is provided with an openin 41 adapted to receive the axial bolt B and t e outer nut b on this end of the bolt serves to secure the arm in place against the side of the casin C as illustrated in Fig. 3. The arm d as an angular extension d, see dotted lines in Fig. 1, which lies alongside the curved, outer face of the casing G, as shown more particnlarly in Fig. 2, and projects outwardly in a horizontal direction beyond the rim of the section c. A screw e, see Fig. 2, reaches through the section 0 and the extension d with a nut e at its end acting to draw the parts together to more securely fasten the part D to the casingl C.

Referring again to Fig. 1, t e cover portion a of the casing C is formed with a'finlike extension F having its outer, divergent, curved edge of a greater radius than that of the peripiery of the casing, but merging tangentially therewith at its to At the bottom the eccentric fin F is ormed with a finger f bent rearwardly at ri htangles to its main portion, or in a pane parallel with the axis of the casing C. Secured to the projecting end (1 o the member D, by means of a screw e", is a uidemember and thread-holdin element eonstrueted of sheet-metal ent in channel form, or substantially U-shape in cross-section, asshown in Fig. 2. One side of the with the fastening-screw guideqnember G is arranged in the plane of the fin F and is formed with an extension g reaching downwardly to aline its curved edge closely adjacent the edge of the fin, see Fig. 1. In this manner the parallel edges of the guide G and tin F form a contracted opening or slot 8 adapted to receive the ends of the thread as they are manipulated to tie the knot in the manner and for the purpose as more fully explained herein after. At its bottom the extension 7 is formed with a finger g which projects across and overlies the top of the bent finger f", the purpose of this arrangement being to locate the guide G with relation to the edge of the fin F when securing it in place v. The outer. flat portion of the guide G, which forms the bottom of its U-shaped channel. lies in a plane parallel with the axis of the casing C, and at its top are two divergenh curved prongs or horns g which form n Hillistantlally V-shaped thread1'ccei\'ing passage or uide in between them. At the bot tom of t e guide G is a single, curved prong 57 formed with a crescent-shalnul edge (1. see Fig. 2, across which the thread is drawn as it is led up between the prongs 9 Between the upper and lower prongs g and .g the outer face of the fiat portion of the guide G is scored with a series of cross cuts or serrations which provide the downwardly-pointed teeth g", see Fig. 1. As the thread is drawn up across the prong g and between the prongs g, g it is pressed 100 against this serrated face of the guide G by the o erators thumb to anchor the free ends an hold them fast during the tying of the knot as later explained.

Within the channel-like opening of the 105 guard G is arranged the knife or threadcutter K which acts to sever the ends of the thread while the knot is bein tied. -As shown in detail in Fig. 4, the wife K is constructed of sheet-metal bent in right 110 angular form and provided with an inwardly-curved blade It which is sharpened along its upper edge. One wing in of the knife is rovided with a slot adapted to receive tie holding-screw e forthe guide G 11! when the knife is arranged in osition between the side of the guide and its supportin arm (11, see Fig. 2. In this manner the knife K is clamped seeurel in place with its cuttin -hlade positionm slightly above 121 the threa -receiving slot o of the guide (i and curved back away from the serrated face of the thread-holding portion thereof, see Fig. 5. The slot 1: in the knife K allows for a slight up and down adjustment 12 of the cutting blade It regulate its position in relation tothe' t ircad-guiding opening a, and the knife and its associated guide G may also be rocked about the axis of the screw e" to adjust the position of the cutter- 13 dred-and-eighty degrees.

-ticed from Fig. 3 that blade in relation to the end of the looperarm L as shown in Fig. 9. The looper L is pivotally mounted on the axial bolt or pin B which extends through the sides of the casing C and the mechanism for controlling its operation is inclosed within the casing and arranged as next described:

Referring to Fig. 3, a sleeve or bushing H is mountedfree to rotate on the bolt or pin B and is held from side play by the nuts 6, 6 against which its ends abut. Mounted fast on the sleeve H is the chann'eled arm I. constructed of relatively thin sheet-metal bent to a U-sha ed cross-section with parallel sides I, Z, and arranged with its outer end projecting through an opening 0 in the peripheral rim of the casing The rim opening 0 extends-substantially half way around the circumference of the casing C, as shown most clearly in Figs. 5 to 8, to allow the arm L to swing through an arc of approximately one-hun- Secured to the arm L is a cylindrical guard or ring R surrounding the interior of the casing C in close proximity to the inner walls of its rim. The arm L projects through an aperture r in the guard-ring R and its sides are soldered or otherwise attached thereto to secure the two parts together so that.

they rotate about t c axis of the bolt B as one element. The purpose of the ring is to serve as c in the rim of the casing (1, it bein -nothe sides 0 the ring overlap the edges of the opening, so as to prevent dust, lint or particles of thread from being admitted to the interior of the knotter.

Mounted free to slide longitudinally of the sleeve H and inclosed within the sides l, l of the arm L are two thread-gri pets or jaw-members J, J. The grippers J are secured rotativel with the arm L b means of a cross-pin l fastened in the sides Z, Z and extending through a hole 7' in the grippers. The hole is large enough to provide a liberal clearance for the pin Z so that the grippers cannot bind thereon but will have a free movement in sliding laterally toward and away from each other. The outer ends of the grippers J, J project beyond the end ofthe arm L and are squared ofi to provide a parallel sided nose see Fig. 5, around which the threads aredrawn into the knot as later explained. Where the adjacent sides of the two their ends, they are roun ed inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3, to provide a flaring mouth m for the entrance of the thread be tween their jaws. At the opposite or butt end of the grippers J, J is a spring-clamp. tension-member '1 shown in detail in Fig. 14. -This consists simply of a section of spring-metal bent in substantially U- a closure for the opening rippers meet at I shape to adapt its legs t, t to straddle the sides of the two grippers J, J, see Figs 3 and 5. The purpose of the sprin -clamp T is to hold the two grippers norma ly sprung together with their adjacent sides in contact while allowing the outer jaw-ends of the grippers to be spread apart slightly when the thread is drawn into the mouth m. In this way the ends of the thread may be drawn into place to be seized by the jaws of the gripper to hold them taut while the knot is being tied as later ex lained. It will be noted from the dotted lines in Fig. 3 that the end of the arm L is cut away in a clearance-slot l adapted to receive the ends of the thread as they enter between the jaws of thegrippcrs, although this is not essential.

Coiled around the sleeve H at the side of the arm L is a spring 0 having one of its ends anchored in a hole in a pin or projection 0 on the interior of the casing C. The oppositeend 0' of the spring 0 extends up alongside the arm L with its extremity bent at right-angles and inserted through a. hole 1 in the arm L and the two grippers J, J. The spring 0 tends to resist the rocking movement of the arm L in the direction indicatedby the arrow a, Figs. 5 to 9-, and serves to return the' arm to its initial position bearing against the end -of the opening 0" of the casing C as shown in Fig. 2. The method of operation of this form of embodiment of our invention is as follows: I

' The knotter is usually held in the left hand with the fingers inserted through the loops of the member I) and the thumb pressed against the toothed face of the guide (i. Most operators prefer to hold the device as illustrated in Fig. 1 with the end of the first finger reaching, through the loop rl and the second finger crooked around the open loop of. When used in this manner the thumb may be removed from the guide G and the whole knotter swung around on the index finger to bring it down against the back of the hand. That is to say, the knotter can be tilted back around the operators first finger, from which it remains suspended out of the way so that all the fingers'are left free and the palm of the hand unobstructed. operator prefers to hold the knottcr with the loop d on the second linger, in which case the device may be shifted down into the palm of the hand to leave the thumb and first finger entirely free and unhampered for other work. \Vith either method of holding the device it is a simple matter to bring it into operative position or to shiftit out of the way so as-to leave the hand free to perform other duties besides that of tying the threads together.

- With the knotter held in the-left hand in In some instances the the prong to insert them under the end of thewthulnb pressing against the guide. (it. That is to say, the free ends of the thread are drawn in under the thumb and pressed against the serrated fare of the gait e G to be held fast while their leading ends are between the prongs 1 passed up through the guidirig-passage m From to groove '1. o f the guide G the threads .1. .2" are drawn aeross to the looper L and looped around the sides of the latter from the front to the rear and then out. to the front again to cross them over the portion drawing forward from the guide. In this way the threads form a complete loo) or bight, m crossing each other at the let t of the arm L. The right hand is then carried downward past the front of the casing C to draw the threads down through the curved guiding-passage s in back of the fin F to direct them around the rim of the casing. As the threads are pulled down in this manner the loop at will tighten around the end of the arm L and the latter will be rocked toward the guide G in the direction indicated by the arrow (1, Fig. 5. Figs. 5 to 8 illustrate the various ste s in the operation of the looper L during t e tying of the knot and for the sake of clearness in these views the casing C is shown with its cover removed and the guide G illus' trated in section taken on a median, vertical plane. It will be noted from Fig. 5 that as the arm L swings down in the. direction indicated by the arrowa, the ends of the grippers J, J approach the blade is of the knife K with the threads as, av drawing across the cutting edge of the blade. N ow. as the ends of the grippers swing down past the blade k, the free ends of the threads are heldtaut by the thumb pressing against the guide G and hence the length of threads extending between the guideG and the arm L will be drawn up between the jaws of the grippers as shown in Fig. 6. In otherwords, the ten sion on the threads .L'OIISEQIIIGIH. to their ends being anchored under the operators left thumb while being pulled down by the right hand will cause them to be drawn into the mouth m of thegrippers J, J to insert them between the jaws of the latter to be seized thereby. It. is to be understoodthat while in the drawings the threads are represented as being rather loose where they encircle the looper. as a matter of fact they draw up tight, it being impossible to show them in such manner without. confusion of the lines of the drawing. Likewise. in Fig. 1 the right handis shown in position at some distance below the, knotterxso as not to obscure the other hand. while in )ractice the hand would naturally grasp close up to the loop.

As the loop tightens around the arm L and the threads are drawn down against theblade I. of the knife K, see Fig. 6. the length e.\'tendin; beyond the grippers .l, J to the guide (i will finally be severed as shown in Fig. 7. At this point the loop will slide ott' from the end of the arm L onto the projecting nose j of the grippers J, J. Meanwhile. the arm L continues to swing downwardl v under the pull on the threads exerted b the right hand and eventually the loop will slide oli' from the ends of the grippers. As the loop .1 slides hit from thenose y" it passes over the severed ends of the threads which are held fast between the jaws of the grippers by the aetion of the clamp T. and the knot is Fig. 8. Finally. as the arm L reaches the limit of its movement and bringsup against the end of the opening 0 in the casing C, see Fig. 8. the pull on the threads will cause the knot to bedrawn up tight and its ends to be released from the jaws of the gripper, thus resultinla in the splicing of the threads with their ends severed at a short distance from the knot. As soon as the ends of the threads .1, a" ha ve been pulled free from the jaws of the grippers J, J the spring 0 acts to return the looper L to its initial position as shown in Fig. 1, read for the next operation of tying another lin ot. By adjusting the knife K up and down on the guide G its cuttin operation can be properly timed in aceordilnce with the movement of the looper L, and by varying the position of the knife with respect to the ends of the grippers J, J the length of the severed ends may be regulated as required.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the construction of the operating-meet]anism is slight! modified. As shown in Fig. 11 the casing has its two sections 0 and c sprung together with a dove-tailed joint surrounding the rim. Axially arranged within the casing are opposite hardened bearing-studs p p formed with tapered sockets for recelvin the pointed ends of a rotatable spindle Preferably, tine of the studs p is adjustable in tie side of the. casing to provide for setting it to allow for a free bearing support for the spindle P and the outer nut 5' serves as a check to lock it in its adjusted position. Mounted fast. on the spindle P'is an arm U formed with an elongated hub u carrying a flange a secured at its end. A second arin U formed with a hub 11 is mounted on the,

hub 11 of the member U and held in place by the flange a. The bore u in the-hub u is tapered outwardly to allow the arm U to rock toward and away from the arm U, and a pin u secured in the arm U extends then formed as shown in' tie threads quite through a hole 71/5 in the arm U to adapt the two arms to rotate together about the axis of the spindle l. A'wire spring Y is coiled around the Pt ip'p-ry oi the hub u" of the arm U with one end anchored in the pin extending from the side of the casing (1, while its opposite end is inserted in a hole 3 in the arm U. The spring Y tends to normally rock the arm I" laterally against the arm U and also acts to swing both arms back into their initial position, as shown in Fig. 10, after they have been carried down pastime. guide (i to complete a knot. Durmg the first part of the turning movement of the arms U, U about their pivot they are held slightly apart, as illustrated in Fig. 11, by means .of a wedge-member of dagger W. Referring to Fig. 10, the dagger \V is preferably formed from an extension of the rim of the casing C bent inwardly and twisted around at right-angles to bring it into position in the path of the arms U, U as they swing back toward the top of the casing. The outer rounded end of the dagger W is pointed or tapered, as shown at 11:, Fig. 11, to adaptit to force an entrance between the adjacent sides of the arms U, U as the latter move back under the action oi the spring Y. The method of operation of this arrangemeut of mechanism is as follows:

The liight of thread is formed around the odds of the two arms U, U, which not conjointly as the looper, and as the arms are drawn downwardly toward the knife K they are held slightly apart by the action of the dagger \V inserted between them. As soon, however as the ends of the threads have been tire on up between the 'aws of the two arms U, U the latter will ride off from the end of the dagger \V and will then be sprung together through the action of the spring Y. This causes the jaws to seize the threads to draw them through the loop as the latter slides oil from the ends of the arms, the knot being formed and drawn taut in exactly the same manner as before described. As the arms U, ii are returned to their initial postion by the spring Y the dagger \V againacts to: spread themnpart so that they will lKLlltlSltlUlHNl toseize the ends of the threads again dlTring the next operation offiorming a. knot. it will be observed that in the al'ran'genu-nt of the mechanism first inscribed the looper-arm L which incloses the grippers J, J receives the. loop of threads -durin; g 'the first part of their movement and tie-around the grippers 'opemug u holds it unti the ends have been drawn up between the jaws of the grippers. This proloop being, tightened to prevent them from to receive the ends of the threads to be currled through the loop and in the arrangement of the mechanism lust described the dagger W performs this same function.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12

rides against the and 13 we also dispense with an extra loopermember by forming the loop-guard. or inclosing meuns'for the gri )pers as an integral part of'oneof them. teferring to Fig. 13 the rightdntnd ripper-arm J is secured fast to the sleeve 1 and is formed with a folded side J spaced a slight distance apart from the main arm. Between the side .l' and the arm J is the opposite gripper J mounted free to slide laterally on the sleeve II but held rotatively by the pin 1' extending through both arms. '1 he method of operation of this form of the device is substantially the same as thatz of the embodiment first described. The loop or bight in the threads is formed around the arm J and parallel, folded side J and the gripper 'J" is free to rock betweenthese two par-tide allow the 'aws to open to receive the raids of the threads to be drawn through the; loop;

It will be seen that our,improvcmgiit'pi-ovides an extremal simple and selfacting .lcnotter 0 small conifpuss and light weight. It may he held on the fingers of the hand without strapping it thereto in convenient position foltying the knot and without OlJSt' uctin the use of the hand for other purposes. ts operating nuts are completely inclosed in a casing to co them free from lint, dust and loose thread thus preventing interference with their action and providing for longer wear. The form of the casing provides for more convenient manipulation of the threads in t ing the knot and guards against the possi ility of their catching on projecting parts or being obstructed to tangle and snarl the ends. The parts of the device being constructed from sheet-metal may be. made relatively light, without sacrificing strength and sti ness while also assuring more economical manufacture.

Various modifications other than those here shown might be made in the form and construction of the parts of the device without. departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; therefore, without limiting ourselves to the exact embodiments herein illustrated and described, what. we claim is 1. In a hand knotter, the' combination' from, a loop-like han le projecting rom oneside of the casing to adapt the knot/tor to be held on the fingersof the hand, and a fixed thread-positioning member projecting from the opposite side of the/easing in spaced relation thereto and arranged in position to adapt the threads to be he the operators thumb during the operatic of looping them around the looper in tl'fiw manner and for the purpose'described.

24 In a with a casing, of a swinging looper-arm pi vdthereugainst by,

hand knotter, the combination oted within the casing and having grippingjaws at its end projecting therefrom, of a handle projecting from one side of the casing. and a thread-positioning member projecting from the opposite side of the casing in spaced relation thereto and provided with an upright portion against which the threads are adapted to 'be held by the operators thumb durin their manipulation in looping them arounc the looper, said threadpositioning member also having diver ent branches for guiding the threads into p ace against itsface.

In a: hand knotter, the combinatlon with a circular casing, of a swinging looperm-ni'pivoted concentrically within the easing and provided with gripping-jaws at its end projecting through the periphery thereof, and a" member mounted on the casing in spaced relation to its periphery and provided with gnii-ling-means for positioning thethreads to betied, said member formed with a scrratedface against which the ends of the threads are adapted'to be held by the pressure of the operators thumb. 4. 'In a knotter, the combination with a casing, of a swingin looper-arm )ivoted within them-mg and provided with gripping-jaws at its end projecting therefrom, a'handlc projecting from one side of the casing and formed with loops for the insertion .ofthe' fingers therethrongh, and thread-positi'oi1ing means projecting from the opposite side of the casing in spaced relation thereto to'adapt the threads to be held thereagainst by the pressure of the thumb during the operation of the looper in forming the loop.

5. In a hand knotter, the combination with a watch-like casing, of a looper pivoted within the casing and provided with gripping-jaws adapted to be oscillated about its rim, means for positioning the threads to be tied in relation to the looper, a curved guard projecting from the rim ofthe casing down- 'ardly beyond the thread-positioning-mcans for guiding the threads in drawing them down from the looper, and means for holding the knotter on the fingers of the hand. 6. In a hand knotter, the combination with a watch-like casing, of a swinging looper-arm pivoted within the casing and provided with gripping-jaws at'itsend proecting through an opening in the rlm of the casing, a thremlpositioning member on the casing against wlnch the threads are adapted to be held by the operators thumb, and

a knife mounted on the back of the thread positioning means in spaced relation with the casing andarranged in the plane of "movement of the looper to cotiperate therewith 'as'the latter SWlngS about its pivot.

7.111 a hand knotter, the combination with a watch-like casing, of a looper-arm pivoted within the casing and provided with gripping-jaws at its end pro'ecting through an aperture in the rim 0 the casing, a thread-guide mounted on the casing in spaced relation to its rim to adapt the threads to be held thereagainst by the operators thumb, and a knife arranged between the threaduide and the casing in spaced relation wit the latter with its cutting edge extending across the plane of movement of thehlooper to adapt it to coiiperate therewit 8. In a knotter, the combination with a holding-frame having a handle formed with loops for the insertion of the fingers therethrough, of a pivoted looper-arm provided with gripping-jaws at its end for seizin the ends of the threads to be tied, fixe thread-positioning means against which the threads are adapted to be held by the operators hand in alinement with the looper, and a thread-guide formed with a curved guiding throat for directing the threads downwardly to cause the looper to swing about its pivot to seize the ends and draw them through the loop.

9. In a knotter, the combination with a pivoted looper-arm having gripping-jaws at its end, of a fixed guiding-member for positioning and holding the ends of the threads in alinement with the looper, means having a contracted curved guideway extending be low the thread-positioning means for directing the threads downwardly as they draw around the looper to-rock the latter on its pivot to cause it to seize the ends and draw them through the loop, and means for holding the knotter on the hand.

10. In a knotter, the combination with a pivoted looper-arm having gripping-jaws at its end, of a guiding-member for positioning and holding the ends of the threads in alnienient with the looper, and means formed with a contracted guiding-slot extending (lu\\1)\\':l1(lly from the thread-positioning means for directing the threads downwardly as they draw around the looper to cause the latter to rock on its pivot to seize the ends of the threads and draw them throu h the loop.

lL ln a knotter, the combination with a pivoted looper having gripping-jaws at its end, of a guiding-member forpositioning and holding the threads in alinement with the looper, a circular casing partly inclosing the looper, and a curved fin projectin from the rim of the casing to direct the tireads downwardly from the looper to cause them to rock the latter to seize the ends and draw them through the loop in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

2. In a knotter, the combination with a pivoted looper having gripping-jaws at its severing knife arranged between the threadgnide and the pivot of the looper, and means to adjust the position of the knife toward and away from the looper and in angular relation thereto in relation to the thread guide.

13. In a knotter, the combination with a pivoted loopcr havin gripping-jaws at its end, of a tlu'ead-guide for positioning and holding the threads under the operators tluunb in alinement with the looper, an endsevering lt'nife arranged between the threadguide and the pivot of the looper, and means to adjust the knife up and down in the plane of movement of the looper and laterally in relation to the end of the looper.

14. In a knotter, the combination with a circular casing, of a loopcr pivoted within the casing and having gripping-jaws at its end projecting therefrom, a thread-guide mounted outhe casing in spaced relation to its rim to adapt the threads to he held thereagainst by the operator's thumb. and an endsevt-ring knife mounted on the thread-guide to adapt it to be ad usted longitudinally with respect to the plane of movement of the looper and laterally in relation to its end.

15. In a knotter, the combination with a cylindrical easing having an aperture in its mm, of a looper pivoted in ,the casing with its end projecting through the aperture, and

. a guard-ring secured to the looper to rotate sides of the looper-arm to adapt their ends to be sprung apart to seize the threads, and a guard-ring secured to the loopcr-arm to oscillate therewith and encirclingthc rim of the casing to overlap its aperture to serve as a closure therefor.

17. In a knotter, the combination with a two-part e \'lindl'ieal casing, of an axial bolt extending between the sides of the casing to secure its parts together, a looper pivoted on said bolt. with its end projecting through the rim of the casing to oscillate thereabout, and gripping-pews on the looper for seizing the ends of the thread to draw them through a loop formed around the looper-..

18. In a knotter, the combinamr a two-part casing, of a bolt extending through the casing to secure its parts together, a

'parallel grippers slidalile on the sleeve between the sides of the looper-arm and arranged with their jaws projecting from the end thereof, and resilient-mtatns to hold the grippers normally sprung together while, allowing their jaws to he spread apart to seize the. thread.

In testimony whereot-we atl'ix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EDWVARI) I PARKS. JOI'IAN A. ANDERSON. Witnesscs Ilrannca r K. Anmnn, (iao. A. Vl'urrn, Jr. 

